UN peacekeeping troops were dispatched to southern Lebanon's city of Marjatoun today to help evacuate Lebanese army soldiers and policemen as the area is under Israeli control, the Lebanese Broadcasting Corp. (LBC) television reported.

Marjayoun was taken by the Israeli army on Thursday in a continuous Israeli effort to move further into southern Lebanon. Interior Minister Ahmad Fatfat told the press that his ministry has decided to evacuate the troops, in consultation with the Lebanese army command.

The troops will be escorted by the UN forces further to the north to an area controlled by the Lebanese government, said the LBC.